My name is Sindy Warren and I am a yoga teacher at Citizen Yoga Cleveland. I’ve been practicing yoga for over fifteen years and it is a true passion. Like all of us, I wear many hats. I’m a lawyer, a mom, and a wife, to name just a few of my daily roles. The past decade and a half have shown me clearly that when I am fully engaged with my yoga and meditation practice, I show up more fully in all aspects of my life.

By nature I tend to be impatient, rushing from one thing to the next, frenetically checking things off my never-ending to-do list. My practice has helped me see this about myself and to respond accordingly. Yoga has taught me to slow down, to witness whatever is transpiring in a given moment, and to more thoughtfully respond instead of simply to emotionally react. Not always, of course, I mean I’m still a totally flawed human being, like we all are. Just ask my almost sixteen-year old daughter. But still, the cumulative effects of my daily practice are undeniable and have set my inner life on a generally upward trajectory.

I believe in the power of the practice to help us live our best lives. I wrote a book about this in 2017, called Radi8: Using the Practice of Yoga To Cultivate Your Inner Shine. And I try to bring this message to life in my yoga classes at Citizen.

I am thrilled to be a part of the Citizen Yoga blog, where I hope to facilitate both an inner and a communal dialogue about all things yoga: meditation, mindfulness, philosophy, asana, and personal growth. Please chime in with any thoughts, reflections, or questions. I look forward to the conversation.

Mindfulness, where should you start?

Incidentally, if you’re looking to get started in a mindfulness practice or simply to experience mindfulness meditation in a group setting, consider our upcoming Yoga and Walking Meditation event at the Cleveland Botanical Garden on May 19. I love the idea of bringing people together in nature to breathe, move and connect. Meditation is a powerful internal experience, but when practiced in community its power expands. Consider joining us!